News & Notes - September 2014

From the SVA President

I have always enjoyed the month of August. Why? My wedding anniversary and birthday are in this month. Glorious homegrown foods are readily available. There is still the feeling of relaxation and fun in the air. I was recently reassured that there is a place for social media when I received about 50 well wishes for my birthday on Facebook—just not possible without the convenience of the internet.

One of my favorite messages was from SVA member Kitty Pearl, who wrote along with birthday wishes, “I’m looking forward to the 2014 STL Symphony season and all the wonderful music and events it includes.” Kitty just couldn’t have expressed my feelings any better. SVA members, it’s time to listen to the music LIVE AT POWELL HALL and see SVA friends often at grand places.

SVA Board News

An SVA Board/Team Leader Retreat was held Saturday, August 23 at the Centene Center for Arts and Education in the heart of Grand Center. Attendees used the new Third Street Baptist parking lot and maneuvered a I-64/40 highway closure and still all arrived in good spirits. Board members and team leaders gave a brief overview of the work their group does, stated a goal for the 2014/15 season, and suggested a change they would like to make in their operations.

Christina Weyer, the STL Symphony's Senior Director of Individual and Leadership Giving, gave a presentation about a suggested plan for the SVA to institute a new committee under Fundraising named the Friends Campaign Committee. Interim Co-President/CEO and VP of Development John Easley along with Christina feel there is a real potential for the SVA to be helpful to the Development committee in their work to build annual campaign funds for the Symphony. Pending the approval of the SVA Board, plans will be made to institute the formation of this committee where volunteers will be involved in writing notes, participating in “thankathons,” and serving as ambassadors for various Development activities.

Please note that dates have been set for combined Board/Team Leader Meetings during the 2014/15 season:

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Thursday, June 11, 2015

With the recent approval of Bev Cox as Vice Chair of the Gypsy Caravan Committee, Chair Phyllis Traub has confirmed that all positions on the SVA Board for 2014/15 have been filled. Kudos to Phyllis and her intrepid committee in creating a group with strong leadership. Encouraging leadership from within all SVA committees and teams will be a recurring theme in this year’s goals that will be announced at the upcoming Fall Membership Meeting.

Membership

As of September 1, 2014, the minimum Friends of the Symphony contribution to apply for SVA membership is $75. A formal letter from VP of Membership, Anne Carman, explaining these changes will be mailed to each SVA member. Each member’s current renewal date will be included in the letter as well.

The Fall Membership Meeting will be held in The Highlands in Forest Park on Wednesday, October 1 at 6:30pm. Membership directories will be distributed. Members with 50 or more hours of volunteer service will be acknowledged. Our guest speaker will be announced soon. Parking will be convenient and plentiful at our new location, and it should be a glorious evening in Forest Park.

Have you completed a 2014/15 Committee Sign-Up Form? Perhaps you want to try a new committee. Maybe you would like to resign from a committee. Here is your opportunity to do so on the committee form.

Maybe we should have created a committee called One and Never Done. Chair and Vice Chair Linda Seibert and Patty Kaplan have filled STL Symphony staff requests for volunteers for a gala invitation mailing and other assignments in the Development department, the Clayton Art Fair for the Marketing department, and Forest Park Concert for the Operations department. As an old expression states, “It’s nice to be needed,” and One and Done is glad to be of service.

Fundraising

Gypsy Caravan Co-Chairs Kent and Jane McNeil are off and running and currently filling a few remaining position on the steering committee. Bev Cox has recently been confirmed as the Vice Chair of Gypsy Caravan.

Jean Saunders will explain some upcoming changes to the Parties of Note committee during the Kick-Off Meeting at her home on Thursday, September 11 at 3:30pm. In the meantime there are opportunities to sign up for exciting, fun parties. Check the Parties of Note webpage to view a list of parties that are still available.

Education

All Education chairs and Powell Hall Opportunities team leaders have set goals and made plans for a positive change on their committees. The leadership have made inquiries of whether their members wish to stay on the committees and teams, and their Kick-Off/Training meeting dates are finalized or will be in short order. We are amazingly ahead of schedule in this process thanks to a continuing very strong leadership in Education.

SVA Office Location and Directions

SVA committee meetings can be scheduled at the SVA office with Amee Colvin, Director of Volunteer Activities.

A member of your SVA committee should be available in the Centene Center lobby to let you into the building. If you arrive late and no one is there, use the call box at the street entrance. Scroll down to "Symphony Volunteer Association," hit the call button, and Amee will respond. You may also call the office directly at 314-289-4168 for building entrance.